Pros
Lovely people in the Harlow office, mainly from another smaller distributor (Gem) also acquired by Exertis, subjected to the undignified pressure of the corporate thumb. Lovely, renovated offices with plenty of free parking.
Cons
As part of Computers Unlimited (CU - later Exertis Unlimited - a consumer electronics distribution company recently acquired by Exertis, I (and others) quickly found out that our previous culture and way of working was under threat. Everything good that we had, from the relationships we held with customers, to the way marketing was provided as a value added (and valuable) service, was no longer viable. From about 18 months in after the acquisition, the pressure was on to sell marketing services to loyal (ex CU) customers. The proverbial dollar was more important to the Exertis leadership than doing the right thing by their customers (new and old). As marketing managers we were under pressure to deliver on outrageously high targets regardless of what our customers actually wanted or needed. I often wondered why Exertis bought my company, only to destroy everything good about it. Maybe they just wanted a few of the contracts we held with key brands.... who knows. Exertis was also a place where, if you fit in, you went places. Anyone from an acquired company was always viewed with suspicion.